Thanks John but it seems I've set myself another task now. I mentioned a link to the Elmore site which had many many scans of tests from Aeromodeller magazine but unfortunately a few weeks ago the site was taken down through no fault of their own. I'd always intended to copy their scans to my computer in case that ever happened but I left it too late . However I've found another site that has full scans of many complete Aeromodeller magazines so I'm in the process of copying out any engine tests from that which I'll upload fairly soon, hopefully .

Haven't flown them yet, kpriddle. When the weather is right and I've got a stooge built, will give a flight report. Here's a few more pictures of the Gilberts. I've reduced the Sterling Ringmaster Jr. to 26-1/2 inches wingspan, planning on building a foamboard version for the larger Gilbert.

True. I bought several sheets of 3/16" thick x 20" x30" poster foamboard for a buck a pop from the Dollar Tree store. It is lighter than the quality Borden stuff. Should be a good flying one, perhaps not as stunt-tacular as balsa with symmetrical foil wing, but still a fun ship.

I just finished breaking it in today and have a plane I'm going to fix up for it. It's a loud strong running engine. Super easy to crank and about as easy to needle as any engine I've ever run... except for the needle being less than a finger-width from the prop. I think I'm going to like this one. I hope i can find a source for parts. Anyone know where to get bits and pieces for this Czechoslovakian thing?

I just finished breaking it in today and have a plane I'm going to fix up for it. It's a loud strong running engine. Super easy to crank and about as easy to needle as any engine I've ever run... except for the needle being less than a finger-width from the prop. I think I'm going to like this one. I hope i can find a source for parts. Anyone know where to get bits and pieces for this Czechoslovakian thing?

Nice!

I've never seen a pic of a plain bearing version of this engine before.

For MP spares you can't beat David Owen here in Australia. If it's available he can get it.

Sure enough, David has the NV I'm concerned about listed on that page. Thanks.

For some reason my NV has gotten too stiff to adjust without pliers. It was originally too loose, I don't know what's gotten into it, it's not dirty or cross threaded. The valve and needle are soaking in alcohol tonight.

I fixed the needle valve. I must've whacked it with the chicken stick because it was slightly bent. I straightened it and it works fine now, and it's tight enough to stay still while it's running, which it wouldn't do before. I learned that the spraybar has two horizontally opposed holes. Never seen one like that before.

Yes, I understand perfectly well RknRusty, having done similar things with a chicken stick. Regarding the spraybar with two holes, that's a new one to me but makes sense. AFAIK the suction is strongest (or so I heard) in the space between the venturi wall and spraybar. The RC carbs do that by sticking the NVA end parallel to the air flow.

I also gather that depended up the quality received, patience, some know how, not knowing but trying and it worked, some have better luck with troublesome engines than others.

I fixed the needle valve. I must've whacked it with the chicken stick because it was slightly bent. I straightened it and it works fine now, and it's tight enough to stay still while it's running, which it wouldn't do before. I learned that the spraybar has two horizontally opposed holes. Never seen one like that before.

That's the way Fox spraybars were made. The holes didn't pass straight through the center of the spraybar, so there was a "top" and a "bottom", with the spraybar oriented so those holes were as far "down" in the venturi as they could go. I always disliked those Fox assemblies, and threw them away when I bought new Foxes.